Thursday, January 28, 2021

Gen Z poised to disrupt finance

Watch out, millennials. Generation Z (roughly ages 25 and younger) is poised to be the “most disruptive generation ever,” according to a recent report by Bank of America. That’s because their economic power is accelerating faster than any other cohort’s, with their income expected to jump fivefold this decade. “The Gen Z revolution is starting,” said the bank’s researchers, “as the first generation born into an online world is now entering the workforce and compelling other generations to adapt to them — not vice versa.” (CNBC)

The art of a career change

Career changes are gaining popularity as the pandemic continues to make people reevaluate their professional goals. Yet, many people struggle to make the move to a new field. Researchers say that there are a few steps people can follow to make a career change a bit easier. They suggests job seekers:

• Be open to new experiences

• Talk to other people about their jobs

• Use conversations to learn about careers and fields

• Start doing the work

• Don’t do it alone

(LinkedIn)

Airmen can’t wait to say goodbye forever to their tiger stripe ABUs

In a few short months, the Air Force will say goodbye to one of its stranger fashion choices: the tiger stripe-patterned Airman Battle Uniform (ABU), which was the branch’s official uniform from 2011 (after a four-year phase-in period) to 2018. From its grey-blue stripes to its stiff material and baggy look, some say there was a lot not to like about the ABUs, and many airmen celebrated their branch’s decision to switch over to the woodsy Operational Camouflage Pattern uniform in 2018. The last day of the ABU approaches on March 31, 2021. (Task & Purpose)

Woman spends $27K on massive My Little Pony collection

A 27-year-old woman is wild for horses and has spent over $27,000 on her collection of colorful ponies that take up an entire room, dubbed the “pony room” in her home. She admitted that she’s spent money on her ever-growing collection rather than using funds for a down payment on a home. However, the pretty-in-pink ponies, made popular in a 1980s TV series, offer her a form of comfort that is priceless. “I used to get bullied about anything possible at school, so the collection gave me something to focus on,” she said. “It was kind of therapy for me. I never used to tell anyone about it, but now I know it is nothing to be embarrassed about.” The downside to having such a huge collection? She said being this passionate about memorabilia has led her to make some bad financial decisions, like dipping into her mortgage savings and using her student loan funds on toys. (The New York Post)

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are fighting publicly in front of the FCC over approval of SpaceX’s addition of lower altitude satellites for its satellite internet

The two are competing for the future of space satellite internet with Musk’s Starlink project and Amazon’s Project Kuiper. Elon’s SpaceX is trying to convince the FCC that it should be allowed to move some Starlink satellites to lower altitudes than had been first approved, but Amazon is objecting to it, as its own satellites are designed to operate in lower altitudes. Musk claims that Amazon is objecting to the request to move satellites lower in order to stifle competition, as Amazon’s satellites aren’t yet ready. Elon tweeted today that it doesn’t serve the public for the FCC to hamstring his own Starlink project while waiting for Amazon’s satellites to be built and finished, which could take years. Amazon News, an official Amazon Twitter account, tweeted out that SpaceX was the company trying to stifle competition and that Amazon has designed its satellites to avoid interference with SpaceX’s. An Amazon spokesperson also gave a statement to CNBC on the matter. Starlink is designed to connect about 12,000 satellites in space to deliver high-speed internet to anywhere on the planet. Amazon’s competing Project Kuiper will put 3,236 internet satellites into low Earth orbit. The FCC authorized Amazon’s Project Kuiper in January, and Amazon plans to invest $10B into the project. (RT)

Dallas DEA scores largest meth seizure ever in North Texas

The Dallas division of the DEA recently made the largest methamphetamine seizure ever in North Texas. Agents pulled packages of meth from the hidden compartment of an 18-wheeler off Interstate 35 in Denton County. “It’s a staggering amount to be seized at one time,” said the Special Agent in Charge for DEA Dallas. “They were like sausage links.” In total, agents took more than 1,930 pounds stuffed into 663 packages and worth more than $45 million, according to the DEA. The one bust was more than 20 percent of the total amount the field division seized in all of 2020 as part of Operation Crystal Shield, which led to 800 investigations and 2,100 arrests. The DEA investigation of the bust revealed the drugs likely belonged to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel or CJNG, considered to be the top drug threat in the U.S. There’s a $10 million reward for its leader, Nemesio Oseguera-Cervantes, nicknamed “El Mencho.” The 18-wheeler didn’t have a fake load inside, but had a fake compartment in the trailer. Chavez says because of less travel during the pandemic, traffickers shifted to fewer but larger shipments. (WFAA)

Buffet pizza chain CiCi’s files for bankruptcy

CiCi’s Holdings Inc. on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after in-person dining plummeted and food-delivery services soared in response to novel coronavirus pandemic restrictions. The privately-owned parent company of the buffet chain CiCi’s also announced its sale to its primary lender, D&G Investors. According to court filings, the proposed reorganization deal, which requires court approval, is expected to be completed by March and address the company’s nearly $82 million debt load. CiCi’s and its franchisees operate 318 locations across 26 states in the United States, or fewer than half of the more than 650 restaurants the chain operated in 2010. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person dining accounted for roughly 86% of CiCi’s sales, with the company’s 2019 revenue reaching $177.3 million but decreasing more than 56% to $76.3 million in 2020. (CNBC)

AT&T is sued for $1.35 billion over technology to synchronize smart devices

AT&T Inc was sued for at least $1.35 billion by a Seattle company that accused the telecommunications giant of stealing its patented “twinning” technology, which lets smart devices such as watches and tablets respond to calls placed to a single phone number. Network Apps LLC said AT&T abandoned joint development and licensing agreements for its technology in 2014 after realizing it would owe a “fortune” in royalties because the market for smart devices was exploding, only to then incorporate the technology a year later in its own product, NumberSync. According to a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, NumberSync uses the “same concept and architecture” with only “cosmetic changes,” and its purported “inventors” were the same AT&T personnel who had worked with the plaintiffs. Network Apps, which was once known as Mya Number, said Dallas-based AT&T has not paid required royalties since October 2015. It is seeking at least $450 million of damages, which it wants tripled to reflect AT&T’s alleged “willful and egregious infringement,” plus royalties for any future infringements. AT&T said it will review the lawsuit and respond in court. (Reuters)

Noise complaint leads to discovery of underground nightclub in Lawrence, police say

Police say approximately 100 people attended a nightclub party broken up by police in Lawrence, Massachusetts earlier this week. A police report said officers broke up the gathering at what the Police Chief worried could be a COVID-19 super spreader event, dozens of people crammed into a small basement transformed into a club. Police said they were initially alerted to the illegal gathering after a noise complaint came in for a basement of a home. Officers responded and initially didn’t locate any noise. Approximately 20 minutes later, a second report of noise at the same address was made, and authorities returned. Police said they noticed people walking into an alley. As officers got closer, they heard a large group of people talking. Once inside the multifamily home, police found a smoke-filled room with about 20 tables set up with hookahs and ice buckets filled with liquor bottles, according to the report. “You wouldn’t be able to tell looking from the outside,” police said. “That’s the point.” Police say a smoky fog machine was running inside to add to the nightclub ambiance. Smoke from charcoal burning hookahs and propane heaters caused authorities to contact the fire department. Inspectional Services Director said there was no current occupancy permit for the address. The Board of Health director said the board is working to identify people who were at the party. (WCVB)

Logged out of Facebook? Company blames configuration change for logouts but says issue has been ‘fixed’

“Why am I logged out of Facebook?” The question ricocheted around the internet as an untold number of people across the nation found themselves logged out of their apps recently. Users flocked to Twitter with the hashtags #SoFacebook and #FacebookDown quickly becoming a top trending topic in the United States. Facebook blamed a configuration change for logouts and confirmed that some users had experienced problems. On January 22, a configuration change caused some people to be logged out of their Facebook accounts. Facebook investigated the issue and fixed it for everyone, but some users have continued to report issues after Facebook said the issue was fixed. Facebook says if you continue to experience issues with logging in, we recommend visiting our Help Center for further assistance. (USA Today)

Parents feeling the pandemic strain

Faced with the daunting responsibilities of parenting, working, and for many, homeschooling full time, the pandemic has hit working parents hard. Over half of America’s working parents with young children say it’s difficult to balance both their jobs and parenting, according to a new study. While mothers feel this more than fathers, couples in which both are employed find it more difficult to find a balance. Americans are supportive of their parent colleagues: 83% say it’s fair that some companies give working parents additional time off to deal; just 16% say it’s unfair as employees who don’t have kids end up doing more work. (Pew Research Center)

McDonald’s offering ‘throwback’ prices on iconic favorites

McDonald’s is starting the new year with some very low prices to pay tribute to the company’s early menu pricing. It’s offering certain menu items for .35 cents or less every Thursday through February 18 when ordered with the McDonald’s app. Here’s a list of some of the deals:

• January 28: Small Shake for $0.25
• February 4: Apple Pie for $0.20
• February 11: Large Fries for $0.35
• February 18: Cheeseburger for $0.25

Customers need to download and register for the McDonald’s app to redeem the offer. The offers aren’t available through McDelivery, but they can be redeemed at the drive-thru, via carry-out, or curbside pickup. (McDonalds)

Get paid $3,000 to sleep: Real-life Sleeping Beauty needed for study

Are you exceptionally good at sleeping? This may just be your dream job. SleepJunkie, a sleep science and review platform, is looking for a real-life Sleeping Beauty to test their mattress. In exchange, the company is offering $3,000 and the reviewer gets to keep the mattress of their choosing – up to a $1,500 value. Here’s how it works: The “Sleeping Beauty” will be sent three mattresses across a two-month period and will have to compile an honest review for each one. SleepJunkie is looking for someone who is a “self-starter, with good writing skills and ‘exceptionally good at sleeping’ – they will also have to sleep alone when trialing the mattresses to ensure an undisturbed night’s sleep.” While navigating the pandemic, which for most means working from home, folks are looking to upgrade their sleep setup, according to SleepJunkie, which says it’s seen an increase in searches and queries. (Sleep Junkie)

Thursday Stays Thirsty For:

• Blueberry Pancake Day
• Data Privacy Day
• Have Fun At Work Day
• Kazoo Day
• Pediatrician Day
• Rubber Ducky Day
• Thank A Plugin Developer Day